Silent Running (1972)

Douglas Trumbull pioneered the practical workhorse aesthetic here years before other filmmakers caught on. The Valley Forge cargo ship is a web of exposed scaffolding and tubular space frames, while the waddling service drones Huey, Dewey, and Louie are pure mechanical engineering, complete with hydraulic arms, whirring tool attachments, and clunky utilitarian logic units that require hands-on repairs.